Heat & Mass Transfer (BME-27)

Steady State Heat Conduction

Prashant Saini
Mechanical Engineering
Madan Mohan Malviya University of
Technology Gorakhpur (UP State Govt. University)

Email: psme@mmmut.ac.in
 Objectives
• Understand the concept of thermal resistance and its
limitations, and develop thermal resistance networks for
practical heat conduction problems
• Solve steady conduction problems that involve multilayer
rectangular, cylindrical, or spherical geometries
• Develop an intuitive understanding of thermal contact
resistance, and circumstances under which it may be
significant
• Identify applications in which insulation may actually
increase heat transfer
• Solve multidimensional practical heat conduction problems

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 General heat conduction equation in cartesian coordinate system

Consider an arbitrary solid with sp. Mass ρ (kg/m3), constant pressure sp. Heat cp (J/kg
K). Let qv be the volumetric heat generation in the body (W/m3). The objective is to find
the most general governing equation for temperature as a function of space and time as:
T=f(x, y, z, t)
Consider an infinitesimal volume element of dimensions dx, dy and dz as shown in
figure. Following assumptions are considered: i) change in K. E. and P. E. are
negligible ii) Work transition on account of temperature change in solid is negligible.
Hence, first law of thermodynamics can be written as:

Heat conduction equation can be

written as:

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 Applying the Taylor series expansion, the previous equation can be evaluated as:

For homogeneous and isotropic material, above equation is modified as:

Laplace Equation

Poisson's Equation

Fourier Equation
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General heat conduction equation in cartesian, polar and spherical coordinates
respectively can be extracted and written as:

The above equations can be written in

1-D form as:

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 y
Boundary conditions

L x
z Fig. A.

Second kind of boundary condition (Neumann y

BC): In this heat flux are prescribed. Also,
boundary may be adiabatic/insulated. See Fig. B. w
For:
x=0;

x=L; L x
Fig. B. 6
 y
Third kind of boundary condition
(Newtonian BC): Conjugate or combined
Hot fluid Cold fluid
convection and radiation boundary h1; T1 h2; T2
condition. See Fig. C.
At:
x=0; x
L
Fig. C.
z
x=L;

These three boundary conditions will be applicable to solve the

steady state 1-D heat conduction problems in Cartesian, polar and
spherical coordinate systems

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STEADY HEAT CONDUCTION IN PLANE WALLS
Heat transfer through the wall of a house can be
modeled as steady and one-dimensional.
The temperature of the wall in this case depends
on one direction only (say the x-direction) and
can be expressed as T(x).

for steady operation

In steady operation, the rate of heat transfer
through the wall is constant.

Fourier’s law of
heat conduction

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Under steady conditions, the
temperature distribution in a plane
wall is a straight line: dT/dx = const.
The rate of heat conduction through a
plane wall is proportional to the average
thermal conductivity, the wall area, and
the temperature difference, but is
inversely proportional to the wall
thickness.
Once the rate of heat conduction is
available, the temperature T(x) at any
location x can be determined by
replacing T2 by T, and L by x.
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Thermal Resistance Concept

Conduction resistance of the

wall: Thermal resistance of the
wall against heat conduction.
Thermal resistance of a medium
depends on the geometry and the
thermal properties of the medium.
Electrical resistance
Analogy between thermal and electrical
resistance concepts.
rate of heat transfer  electric current
thermal resistance  electrical resistance
temperature difference  voltage difference

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Newton’s law of cooling

Convection resistance of the

surface: Thermal resistance of the
surface against heat convection.

Schematic for convection resistance at a surface.

When the convection heat transfer coefficient is very large (h → ),

the convection resistance becomes zero and Ts  T.
That is, the surface offers no resistance to convection, and thus it
does not slow down the heat transfer process.
This situation is approached in practice at surfaces where boiling
and condensation occur. 11
 Radiation resistance of the
surface: Thermal resistance of the
surface against radiation.

Radiation heat transfer coefficient

Combined heat transfer

coefficient

Schematic for
convection and radiation
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resistances at a surface.
 Thermal Resistance Network

The thermal resistance network for heat transfer through a plane wall subjected to
convection on both sides, and the electrical analogy.

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Temperature drop

U overall heat
transfer coefficient

Once Q is evaluated, the

surface temperature T1 can
be determined from

The temperature drop across a layer is

proportional to its thermal resistance.
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 Multilayer
Plane
Walls
The thermal resistance
network for heat transfer
through a two-layer plane
wall subjected to
convection on both sides.

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THERMAL CONTACT RESISTANCE

Temperature distribution and heat flow lines along two solid plates
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pressed against each other for the case of perfect and imperfect contact.
 The value of thermal
contact resistance
hc thermal contact depends on:
conductance • surface roughness,
• material properties,
• temperature and
pressure at the
interface
• type of fluid trapped
at the interface.

Thermal contact resistance is significant and can even dominate the

heat transfer for good heat conductors such as metals, but can be
disregarded for poor heat conductors such as insulations. 18
GENERALIZED THERMAL RESISTANCE NETWORKS

Thermal resistance network

for two parallel layers.

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Two assumptions in solving complex
multidimensional heat transfer
problems by treating them as one-
dimensional using the thermal
resistance network are
(1) any plane wall normal to the x-axis is
isothermal (i.e., to assume the
temperature to vary in the x-direction
only)
(2) any plane parallel to the x-axis is
adiabatic (i.e., to assume heat transfer Thermal resistance network for
to occur in the x-direction only) combined series-parallel
Do they give the same result? 20
arrangement.
HEAT CONDUCTION IN CYLINDERS AND SPHERES
Heat transfer through the pipe
can be modeled as steady
and one-dimensional.
The temperature of the pipe
depends on one direction only
(the radial r-direction) and can
be expressed as T = T(r).
The temperature is
independent of the azimuthal
angle or the axial distance.
This situation is approximated
in practice in long cylindrical
Heat is lost from a hot-water pipe to
pipes and spherical
the air outside in the radial direction,
containers.
and thus heat transfer from a long
pipe is one-dimensional.
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A long cylindrical pipe (or spherical
shell) with specified inner and outer
surface temperatures T1 and T2.

Conduction resistance of the cylinder layer

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 A spherical shell
with specified
inner and outer
surface
temperatures T1
and T2.

Conduction resistance of the spherical layer

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 for a cylindrical layer

for a spherical layer

The thermal resistance
network for a cylindrical (or
spherical) shell subjected
to convection from both the
inner and the outer sides.
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Multilayered Cylinders and Spheres

The thermal resistance

network for heat transfer
through a three-layered
composite cylinder
subjected to convection
on both sides.

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 Once heat transfer rate Q has been
calculated, the interface temperature
T2 can be determined from any of the
following two relations:

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CRITICAL RADIUS OF INSULATION
Adding more insulation to a wall or
to the attic always decreases heat
transfer since the heat transfer area
is constant, and adding insulation
always increases the thermal
resistance of the wall without
increasing the convection
resistance.
In a a cylindrical pipe or a spherical
shell, the additional insulation
increases the conduction
resistance of the insulation layer
but decreases the convection An insulated cylindrical pipe exposed to
resistance of the surface because convection from the outer surface and
of the increase in the outer surface the thermal resistance network
area for convection. associated with it.
The heat transfer from the pipe
may increase or decrease,
depending on which effect
dominates. 27
The critical radius of insulation
for a cylindrical body:

The critical radius of insulation

for a spherical shell:

The largest value of the critical

radius we are likely to
encounter is

We can insulate hot-water or

steam pipes freely without The variation of heat transfer
worrying about the possibility of rate with the outer radius of the
increasing the heat transfer by insulation r2 when r1 < rcr.
insulating the pipes. 28
 Numerical
• The composite wall of an oven in an application consists of three materials, two of which
are of known thermal conductivity 20 W/m K & 50 W/m K and known thickness as 30
cm & 15 cm respectively. The third material is sandwiched between the above two
material of thickness 15 cm but unknown thermal conductivity. Measurement reveals that
under steady state condition the temperature of outer and inner materials are 20 °C and
600 °C respectively. Further it is noticed that inside oven air temperature is 800 °C
offering a convection heat transfer coefficient 25 W/m2 K. Calculate thermal conductivity
of sandwiched material.
• A long hollow cylinder of inner and outer radii r1 and r2 and length L has its inner surface
subjected to a uniform heat flux at a rate of qi" (W/m2), while the outer surface is in
contact with atmospheric pressure, there is no internal heat generation in the cylinder.
Derive an expression for steady state radial temperature. Further calculate the temperature
of the inner surface of the cylinder. If r1 = 10 cm, r2 = 20 cm, k = 50 W/m K and qi" =
1.16*105 W/m2.
• A cable of 10 mm outside diameter is to be laid in an atmosphere of 25°C (h0 = 12.5W/m2
°C) and its surface temperature is likely to be 75 °C due to heat generated within it. How
would the heat flow from the cable be affected if it is insulated with rubber having
thermal conductivity (0.15 W/m °C)?
• A steel pipe with 50 mm OD is covered with a 6.4 mm asbestos insulation (k = 0.166
W/m K) followed by a 25 mm layer of fiber glass insulation (0.0485W/m K). The pipe
wall temperature is 393 K and the outside insulation temperature is 38 °C. Calculate the
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interface temperature between the asbestos and fiber glass.
 Assignment
1. Derive the general heat conduction equation in polar coordinate system.

2. Derive the general heat conduction equation in spherical coordinate system.

3. An insulated wall is to be constructed of common brick 20 cm thick and metal lathe with plaster 2.5
cm thick with inter mediate layer of loosely packed rock wool. The outer surfaces are at a
temperature of 600 °C and 500 °C respectively calculate the thickness of insulation required in order
that the heat loss/square meter shall not exceed 600 watts. Given thermal conductivity of materials:
Brick=0.32 W/m K; Metal plastic = 0.04 W/m K; rock wool= 0.046 W/m K.

4. Hot air at temperature of 40 °C is flowing through a steel pipe of 10 cm dia. The pipe is covered
with two layers by different insulating materials of thickness 3 cm each their corresponding thermal
conductivity. k1= 0.2 W/m K, k2=0.32 W/m K inside heat transfer coefficient 50 W/m2 K outside
heat transfer coefficient its 10 W/m2 K. Assuming atmospheric temperature of 10 °C, find heat lost
from 40 m length of pipe.

5. Consider a spherical container of inner radius 8 cm and outer radius 10 cm of thermal conductivity
45 W/m ºC. The inner and outer surfaces of container are maintained at 200 °C and 25 °C
respectively. Determine the temperature at a radius 9 cm and rate of heat transfer. 30
 Summary
• Steady Heat Conduction in Plane Walls
 Thermal Resistance Concept
 Thermal Resistance Network
 Multilayer Plane Walls
• Thermal Contact Resistance
• Generalized Thermal Resistance Networks
• Heat Conduction in Cylinders and Spheres
 Multilayered Cylinders and Spheres
• Critical Radius of Insulation

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